Mark Harvey from Ebuy360 describes in his own words how he developed a successful online product working with Mick Ramsden from ChinaSourcingForYou.

“I struggled for years selling generic products online until I realised selling something that’s easily found after a quick search on Alibaba is the road to ruin. Ultimately, it’s a race to the bottom as sellers have no other option but to complete on price alone. That changed when I read a quote by Warren Buffett:

“a good business is like a strong castle with a deep moat around it. I want sharks in the moat, I want it untouchable”

After reading that the penny finally dropped.

I needed to do 2 things, customise my next product so it was untouchable, and find someone on the ground in China to break down the barriers to help me achieve it.

1 year on I have a product that is untouchable, a best seller with huge margins as I can set the sale price, and a lower purchase cost as I’m now going direct to the factory.

That product alone by far outsells all my other products combined and is on track to receiving a seven-figure exit valuation.

Gone are the days that stamping a white logo you had made on Fiverr constitutes as differentiation! As does offering the same product as everyone else and think by adding an extra it’s going to cut it.

If the core product is the same but you add free filter then competitors will quickly add 2 free filters, and before you know it sellers will be offering so many free filters it will be difficult to know what you’re selling.”

Mark had identified his product and target market. However, he needed help to find a capable manufacturer who could understand his design intent.

Mick Ramsden from ChinaSourcingForYou met Mark whilst delivering part a course for online eBay sellers led by Lewis Wade from Import2eBay. Mick described the process of sourcing Chinese manufacturers using on the ground Chinese buyers. Also, he explained the level of detail required to interpret customer requirements and provide an end product branded and to the required quality. Good project management is essential but also the ability to accurately explain the customer design inten. Mark had struggled on his own and only managed to source a Chinese wholesaler with no experience of branding products or ability to interpret exact requirements.

As Mark explains above, now he has his own branded product, making high sales levels, achieving excellent margin and has placed some sharks in the moat!

For further information about Sourcing from the Far East and online selling contact Mick on 07957 928862 or mr@ramsdenpurchasing.com